With This Ring (Young Justice SI) (Thread Fourteen)

[Radix]

I have to agree with Zoat here.

The Amazons of DC have an established history. They are not the Amazons of myth. Just like Marvel's Thor isnt a redhead.

The New 52 completely perverted the story of Wonder Woman. The Lasso isnt used as much, she is focused on as a warrior instead of a peacebringer. They make Ares her mentor. And the Amazons are child killers.

If Azarello wanted to tell his own story with his own character, fine. But that isnt Wonder Woman and it isnt the Amazons.

 

[Someguy Somewhere]

DC's Nu52 and Marvel's Ultimates are, to me, a sort of late onset dark age of comics-itis.

The Dark Age of comics came out after The Watchmen, and The Dark Knight Returns came out to great success. Those were different from main stream comics at the time, and everyone jumped on the bandwagon. The thing is, they were popular as a change of pace from the norm, not as a full on replacement. But the industry saw money in it so everything had to be like those, no matter how little they actually resembled those stories.

Everything needed to be grimdark, because for some reason comic book characters needed to be horribly flawed, warped caricatures of themselves was the hip thing to do. I have no idea why they felt the need to once more toss the baby out with the bathwater and reboot things to bring in new readers. The Reboots are always 'we want young comic readers to be able to enjoy our stories without having to understand 20+ years of history'.

But that's the thing, you can have new readers enjoy a story, by writing a GOOD STORY. The Lore is all great and stuff, but if you want to get folks in the door you still need a functional narrative. But no comic book company is actually writing for individual comic sales anymore, they all write for collections.

Now, I'm more of a Marvel fan then a DC fan, because of how the stories were written. The Difference in Classic DC story telling was having heroes as great paragons, demigods in their own rights with powers far beyond mere mortals. They fought great titans and monsters and gods. Classic Marvel made human heroes. Powers that are generally just barely superhuman, that had to worry about the very human interactions. They were flawed like how normal people are flawed, and fought villains that were likewise flawed.

DC's big name hero's are so over the top powerful that generally there ISN'T a problem they can't punch their way out of, so they have to go for some big personal story to give conflict, because you can't just have a 'Punch the Bank Robber, The End' story and keep butts in seats like when it was the news paper strip days.

With the new age of comics, they want flawed heros because they actually have some personality, but they warp it well beyond what 'flawed hero' . Some hit Anti Hero territory, and yeah you can tell those stories too. But some went straight out Villainous, while still expecting to be seen as the Heroes because that's what the character was intended to be.

Both Marvel and DC had options, when they wanted to explore alternate interptations of a character, the Elseworld comics, or the alternate timelines stuff. They could go out, show off some authors's different version of a character, and see what hit and what missed. Some characters, or aspects of characters, that proved popular wormed their way into the main stream. Alternatively they could just make new characters with similaries to the old ones....all the Image Comics stuff that was shoveled out the door generally ripped someone off, as an example.

 

[Someguy Somewhere]

Actually....I've got a question for the DC experts out there.

It comes as a rather big source of real world issues occurred right around when those Grim changes started to return to comics.

In the months after 9/11 happened, Marvel made a specific comic highlighting the event in their universe, making the actions canon to the fictional universe, to a degree. Marvel tended to, both before and after, stick fairly close to reality when it came to their maps of the world, and the nations in it. Yes there were fictional countries shoe horned in, but the middle east was still recognizable. With Marvel's 'sliding timeline' method for their mainline universe, we see those events influence the universe. Old versions of Iron Man for example had his origin in 'Nam, where as most now place his wounding in Afghanistan. We even see on occasion a real world political figure show up.

DC, at the time didn't really mention the attacks in universe. And it is rather hard to see it happening in a world where superman or a dozen other characters could almost single-handedly stopped it. And DC tends to fudge the geography of the world a fair bit more when it came using fictional nations as stand ins for real ones, and fictional political leaders standing in for real world ones.

Both universes have had reboots on one scale or another since it happened, and I do know that marvel has stuck far closer to things before as after. Writing for Both Marvel and DC took a turn towards something far more Grim after the real world events occurred, and fictional terrorists became a fairly easy target for 'generic villains' as well as sources of stories in the aftermath.

With WTR, Paul had a talk with Zatanna and a local cabbie when he was in the middle east, that pointed out the differences in their two universes. It's one of the little parts of this story that really sticks out in my mind even this long after reading it.

But I really don't know if the 'mainline' or other DC universes ever really stepped in to say that 'Yes, it did happen' and the fictional versions impact on the setting.

 

[Flightless Man]

I have to agree with Zoat here.

The Amazons of DC have an established history. They are not the Amazons of myth. Just like Marvel's Thor isnt a redhead.

The New 52 completely perverted the story of Wonder Woman. The Lasso isnt used as much, she is focused on as a warrior instead of a peacebringer. They make Ares her mentor. And the Amazons are child killers.

If Azarello wanted to tell his own story with his own character, fine. But that isnt Wonder Woman and it isnt the Amazons.

Click to shrink...

If Nu52's biggest/worst changes got done in Elseworlds, they would have been fine. The issue was rewritting half the DC landscape and leaving everything hard to even recognize/contradictory to how we knew the characters.
We have had the Warlike and man hating Amazons since 1989 (Bana Mighdall), Why didn't Nu52 have Wonder Woman from that group of Amazons instead and then her warlike behaviour makes sense. They could have had the Themysciran Amazons be revealed later. I'm fine with changes, but why did they make a 120 degree turn when they had had some Amazons they could have slightly nudged and fit the narrative he wanted.
Nu52 had some good ideas/concepts but the good ones got buried under very poor execution and the pile of bad ones.



Someone else said Zoat changes characters, He really hasn't for he most part in the way of backstories only in character growth (considering how different some of the Team and League/Allies are). Characters generally are introduced in a very recognizable manor and change through the story. Billy didn't start with the sword of Beowulf. Komand'r would have gone her normal route fairly soon without Paul's arrival. Alan was a dying Ex green, who is now a middle aged blue.
I change things in my stories, by accident and I fess up or on purpose with a reason. Zoat has only had a few minor mistakes I have noticed over 10ish years(and half the ones I did, were not wrong, only things I learned from a different era so are different from how I know). He needs to keep Paragon verse mainline and recognizable, or readers could/will have a way harder time understanding the changes made. He has done a very good job and I commend him for keeping so closely inline with Pre Flashpoint canon.

Personally I find the space arcs the most boring. I find the stakes hardest to comprehend/relate to, the space sections feel disconnected and I can't picture where they are in relation to earlier worlds we visited. I am very geography focus and I really have a hard time caring when I don't really know where anything is. This is not a fault of Zoat's, it's a failing of mine in visualization. Does anyone know of a map of YJ space? It would really help me have a better general idea of where things happened.

 

[Radix]

Actually....I've got a question for the DC experts out there.

It comes as a rather big source of real world issues occurred right around when those Grim changes started to return to comics.

In the months after 9/11 happened, Marvel made a specific comic highlighting the event in their universe, making the actions canon to the fictional universe, to a degree. Marvel tended to, both before and after, stick fairly close to reality when it came to their maps of the world, and the nations in it. Yes there were fictional countries shoe horned in, but the middle east was still recognizable. With Marvel's 'sliding timeline' method for their mainline universe, we see those events influence the universe. Old versions of Iron Man for example had his origin in 'Nam, where as most now place his wounding in Afghanistan. We even see on occasion a real world political figure show up.

DC, at the time didn't really mention the attacks in universe. And it is rather hard to see it happening in a world where superman or a dozen other characters could almost single-handedly stopped it. And DC tends to fudge the geography of the world a fair bit more when it came using fictional nations as stand ins for real ones, and fictional political leaders standing in for real world ones.

Both universes have had reboots on one scale or another since it happened, and I do know that marvel has stuck far closer to things before as after. Writing for Both Marvel and DC took a turn towards something far more Grim after the real world events occurred, and fictional terrorists became a fairly easy target for 'generic villains' as well as sources of stories in the aftermath.

With WTR, Paul had a talk with Zatanna and a local cabbie when he was in the middle east, that pointed out the differences in their two universes. It's one of the little parts of this story that really sticks out in my mind even this long after reading it.

But I really don't know if the 'mainline' or other DC universes ever really stepped in to say that 'Yes, it did happen' and the fictional versions impact on the setting.

Click to shrink...

It's funny you mention the 9/11 special. It is kind of ironic becausw it has Doom crying over some people dying in a terrorist attack. He is personally responsible for terrorist attacks on New York.

Yeah it's not a big deal in DC. In the 90s an alien blew up a major city on the Pacific Coast. They have experienced alien invasions. Gotham got hit by an earthquake; epidemic, and a few other things. A plane flying into the WTC is nothing. Especially since Superman could easily stop a plane hijacking.

But Marvel also has that. They just pretend to be more real. Do you know what the Avengers were doing during 2001? They were in the midst of the Kang Dynasty where he invaded the Earth and starts what is essentially a world war. He blows up Washington DC in its entirity. People are rounded up into concentration camps. Spider-man is fighting an interdimensional hinter because he is a Spider-totem. A bit later "Magneto" rounds up people in New York into concentration camps.

Marvel is not the world outside your window.

 

[Mr Zoat]

11th July 2012
06:15 GMT

You think you're over your vertigo, then you see a giant miles deep hole in the ground heading towards the planet's core.

The last time I saw one of these, we were all moving so fast that I didn't really think about it. And I was flying, which meant that my environmental shield made me feel like I was standing on solid ground the entire time. And the hole wasn't that big: it was one of several that got used for raw material transportation as much as anything.

This is one of the holes they launch star ships through.

And it's…

Bigger.

The area around it is fairly clean, but my armour's sensors pick up the force of the winds created by the imbalance in pressure between Inner Qward and Outer Qward. Naturally there are no guard rails, though there are lights to let the people in the surrounding area know when a ship's en route.

I can see the other side, but between here and there the ground just vanishes.

Kalmin doesn't look all that impressed, barely giving the area a once-over before stepping off the edge and accelerating downwards. He's still standing with his feet pointing at the distant ground, so it's a little like he's riding an invisible elevator.

I can't see the bottom.

Heh.

I step off and plummet after him. And decide not to ask if Kalmin wants to play twenty questions.

"What is your relationship to Weaponer Lysis?"

"I was her tutor and overseer. Qwardian society can be chauvinistic. It's one of our vices. She had trouble getting a placement after completing her initial training. My foolish contemporaries turned her down. Their loss was my gain."

Or to quote Terry Pratchett, one of the vices he thinks of as vices. The rest are just job skills.

"Was she involved in the power ring project?"

"Yes. Jordan actually met her, briefly, just before he destroyed the Anti-Green Lantern Central Power Battery."

Might be worth recruiting her, then. Of course, if she was trained by Kalmin and shares his devotion to destruction… Then perhaps not.

"Does she share your loyalty to the Anti-Monitor?"

"She… Didn't. She was more interested in creating weapons than in their purpose. But she was talented and devoted to her work. I had every hope that she would eventually come to see things my way, but I was removed from office before I could accomplish that."

"Kalmin, I realise that you're extremely faithful in your beliefs, but… Roughly how widespread is your viewpoint, to the best of your knowledge?"

"Why are you asking me?"

"It occurs to me that Varnathon didn't come out of nowhere. Even if trading qwa matter is outside of the Overton window for most Weaponers-."

"You think we've gone soft."

"I think that you would be unwise to assume that a majority of Weaponers are as devoted as you are. Or that those who are prepared to oppose Varnathon are doing it for the same reason that you are."

He doesn't respond.

"You just said that you didn't think your own acolyte was quite there. The Anti-Monitor has been gone for some time. How many senior Weaponers do you know keep the faith, rather than just paying it lip service or ignoring it in favour of personal power?"

"You wish me to believe that Varnathon and people like him are in the majority?"

"I haven't done any polling, but no one's killed him yet, have they? Despite him not killing you?"

"You may be right. When I think on my time as High Weaponlord, I realise that I didn't address my people's spiritual needs at all. I only gave direction to their intellects. I had… Thought that was enough. But now… I realise that you may be correct."

"Does that change what we're here to do?"

"No. It just makes me aware of my own failing. I would like to put all of the fault on Varnathon, but if we've been heading this way for a while and I was simply blind to it… I am… Ashamed."

"What exactly are the duties of the High Weaponlord?"

"To oversee the designing of new destructive technologies to serve the Anti-Monitor's armies. But the whole point is to serve the Anti-Monitor. That's what makes us q'ardajin. Without that, we're… Just like everyone else. I might as well join the Psions!"

"I'm afraid that you missed the boat on that one."

"The Apokoliptians, then. I joined you because I wanted to get out of my funk before moving on to work that would actually advance the Anti-Monitor's goals. And now I find that I was never as faithful as I convinced myself that I was."

"I could be wrong."

"No, it makes too much sense. Aaaah, how far we've fallen."

I look at the screen relaying what the upward-facing sensors can see. I'd say a couple of miles at this point, the Qwardian day shining down at the upper end of the tunnel is reduced to a distant point of light.

"How do you want me to behave?"

"Remain silent when we are in company. Attack only at my order. That's important. I fully expect to have to prove that I haven't lost my killer instinct. Having a robot fight for me might be acceptable in some circumstances, but this is a matter of spiritual importance."

"And what happens if Sinestro's down there?"

"No."

"It's not like Varnathon has a problem with him, is it? If anything, Sinestro represents both an excellent sales opportunity and advertisement. As long as he pays in cash rather than future favours. And it would let him portray himself as doing something that you started."

"If Sinestro is down there, then I will kill him myself before dealing with Varnathon and his lies. You need not concern yourself with that."

"Oh? I thought that having.. Thunderers and people like that use your weapons was a perfectly normal thing for Weaponers to do?"

"I'm not under any great moral imperative to kill Sinestro myself. I just want to do it for my personal pleasure."

The image of the hole below us begins to resolve in the dim colours of the Qwardian interior for a few seconds before we both drop out. Kalmin begins slowing his descent at one, while I allow myself to continue to fall.

Two, one…

I hit the ground, my kinetic barrier flaring to life and absorbing all of the force of my impact.

"Weaponer. You lead, I follow."

 

[Ngamer11]

"And what happens if Sinestro's down there."

"No."

"It's not like Varnathon has a problem with him, is it? If anything, Sinestro represents both an excellent sales opportunity and advertisement. As long as he pays in cash rather than future favours. And it would let him portray himself as doing something that you started."

"If Sinestro is down there, then I will kill him myself before dealing with Varnathon and his lies. You need not concern yourself with that."

"Oh? I thought that having.. Thunderers and people like that use your weapons was a perfectly normal thing for Weaponers to do?"

"I'm not under any great moral imperative to kill Sinestro myself. I just want to do it for my personal pleasure."

Click to shrink...

I'm now wondering if we'll finally have Paul interact with the infamous Sinestro. Has he actually heard of the OLC Mr Zoat? If yes, what's his opinion of them?

 

[BR549]

Your biggest mistake when dealing with Paul is allowing him to start talking.

 

[Vaermina]

"I could be wrong."

"No, it makes too much sense. Aaaah, how far we've fallen."

Click to shrink...

And I think Paragon just convinced him that their people should be more proactive in their attempts to destroy everything...

Good job Paragon...

 

[Mr Zoat]

I'm now wondering if we'll finally have Paul interact with the infamous Sinestro. Has he actually heard of the OLC Mr Zoat? If yes, what's his opinion of them?

Click to shrink...

Yes, Dox directly spoke to him early on.

He's withholding judgement until they've been around a little longer.

 

[Darko]

Kalmin and share

Click to shrink...

'shares'

Might be worth recruiting her, then. Of course, if she was trained by Kalmin and share his devotion to destruction… Then perhaps not.

Click to shrink...

Ah, you're learning not to recruit every psychopath you meet.

You're growing up.

"I think that you would be unwise to assume that a majority of Weaponers are as devoted as you are. Or that those who are prepared to oppose Varnathon are doing it for the same reason that you are

Click to shrink...

They may be opposing him just because they want to be in power.

Kinda like Melmoth and his wife, their only difference in ruling was that the they thought the other shouldn't be leading, but were otherwise the same brand of scumbag.

You just said that you didn't think your own acolyte wasn't quite there

Click to shrink...

Sentence sounds weird.

Maybe 'You just said that you didn't think your acolyte was quite there'

"You wish me to believe that Varnathon and people like him are in the majority?"

Click to shrink...

Or they're at least much bigger than a minority.

When I think on my time as

Click to shrink...

'of my time'

. I might as well join the Psions!"

Click to shrink...

I'm guessing he sees them as being petty children who have all the skills of a child breaking their toys?

And what happens if Sinestro's down there."

"No."

"It's not like Varnathon has a problem with him, is it? If anything, Sinestro represents both an excellent sales opportunity and advertisement. As long as he pays in cash rather than future favours. And it would let him portray himself as doing something that you started."

"If Sinestro is down there, then I will kill him myself before dealing with Varnathon and his lies. You need not concern yourself with that."

"Oh? I thought that having.. Thunderers and people like that use your weapons was a perfectly normal thing for Weaponers to do?"

"I'm not under any great moral imperative to kill Sinestro myself. I just want to do it for my personal pleasure."

Click to shrink...

Really hoping that if this happens he'll be able to forge a blue ring for Kori.

interior for a few second

Click to shrink...

'seconds'

 

[Idkusername]

'of my time'

Click to shrink...

Thinking on something is a perfectly valid expression.

 

[Chojin Patriarch]

11th July 2012
06:15 GMT

You think you're over your vertigo, then you see a giant miles deep hole in the ground heading towards the planet's core.

Click to shrink...

Heh. There's such a time when you just need the term Cyclopean for architecture. This would be one of them.

Spoiler: Commentary spoilered for length

The last time I saw one of these, we were all moving so fast that I didn't really think about it. And I was flying, which meant that my environmental shield made me feel like I was standing on solid ground the entire time. And the hole wasn't that big: it was one of several that got used for raw material transportation as much as anything.

This is one of the holes they launch star ships through.

Click to shrink...

So easily a couple of kilometres wide. I'm starting to feel acrophobic just thinking about the view.

And it's…

Bigger.

Click to shrink...

Understated as usual, OL. I'm picturing an experience similar to the end of Mass Effect 1, with the walk along the outside of the Citadel's central tower, looking up at Sovereign getting larger and larger as you approach the Council Chambers...

The area around it is fairly clean, but my armour's sensors pick up the force of the winds created by the imbalance in pressure between Inner Qward and Outer Qward. Naturally there are no guard rails, though there are lights to let the people in the surrounding area know when a ship's en route.

I can see the other side, but between here and there the ground just vanishes.

Click to shrink...

I suppose if it were night here, there'd be light visible from within the port... And I'm not sure if that's better or worse.

Kalmin doesn't look all that impressed, barely giving the area a once-over before stepping off the edge and accelerating downwards. He's still standing with his feet pointing at the distant ground, so it's a little like he's riding an invisible elevator.

I can't see the bottom.

Click to shrink...

Classy. Kalmin's fields of Fucks are entirely barren today. What happens when the gravity flips (assuming it does?) Will he appear to pop up out of the hole upside down?

Heh.

I step off and plummet after him. And decide not to ask if Kalmin wants to play twenty questions.

Click to shrink...

Let's not go with the "Are we there yet?" Routine either. I suspect this will take a little while at terminal velocity, without Ring assistance.

"What is your relationship to Weaponer Lysis?"

"I was her tutor and overseer. Qwardian society can be chauvinistic. It's one of our vices. She had trouble getting a placement after completing her initial training. My foolish contemporaries turned her down. Their loss was my gain."

Click to shrink...

Because they assumed she was inferior solely because of her gender, and you found her to be an excellent and inventive creator. I doubt he made her wear the sling bikini and gogo-boots, at any rate.

Or to quote Terry Pratchett, one of the vices he thinks of as vices. The rest are just job skills.

"Was she involved in the power ring project?"

Click to shrink...

And that is a significant question. After all, we know she created the Red Ring the Renegade provided that British Police Detective with Rage Enlightenment...

"Yes. Jordan actually met her, briefly, just before he destroyed the Anti-Green Lantern Central Power Battery."

Might be worth recruiting her, then. Of course, if she was trained by Kalmin and share his devotion to destruction… Then perhaps not.

Click to shrink...

Do you want two people like Kalmin around? Egging each other on to new heights of destructive creativity?

"Does she share your loyalty to the Anti-Monitor?"

"She… Didn't. She was more interested in creating weapons than in their purpose. But she was talented and devoted to her work. I had every hope that she would eventually come to see things my way, but I was removed from office before I could accomplish that."

Click to shrink...

Huh. Sounds like she'd make a good candidate for a new High Weaponer. Just the right mix of principles and mercenary attitude.

"Kalmin, I realise that you're extremely faithful in your beliefs, but… Roughly how widespread is your viewpoint, to the best of your knowledge?"

"Why are you asking me?"

Click to shrink...

Because the question is probably making Kalmin have all sorts of thoughts about his fellow Weaponer's piety... Not all of them good.

"It occurs to me that Varnathon didn't come out of nowhere. Even if trading qwa matter is outside of the Overton window for most Weaponers-."

"You think we've gone soft."

Click to shrink...

To be fair, I suspect that window of 'acceptable practice' would be fairly wide outside of the Qwa-matter thing. But, set off someone's religious values, and that's a big old modifier.

"I think that you would be unwise to assume that a majority of Weaponers are as devoted as you are. Or that those who are prepared to oppose Varnathon are doing it for the same reason that you are."

He doesn't respond.

Click to shrink...

Let's hope he's not thinking 'Fuck, how many of these fucks am I going to have to kill before I find someone I think devout enough?'

"You just said that you didn't think your own acolyte wasn't quite there. The Anti-Monitor has been gone for some time. How many senior Weaponers do you know keep the faith, rather than just paying it lip service or ignoring it in favour of personal power?"

"You wish me to believe that Varnathon and people like him are in the majority?"

Click to shrink...

Or the true believers just aren't being vocal enough about matters. After all, if Varnathon would kill anyone he thinks is being seditious... (Within the limit of his ability to kill, anyway.) And how many of the hardliners prefer to just get on with the great work of designing weapons rather than politicking and mercantilism?

"I haven't done any polling, but no one's killed him yet, have they? Despite him not killing you?"

"You may be right. When I think on my time as High Weaponlord, I realise that I didn't address my people's spiritual needs at all. I only gave direction to their intellects. I had… Thought that was enough. But now… I realise that you may be correct."

Click to shrink...

Oh, gods, did you just convince Kalmin to organise a more devout leadership? Keeping in mind the omnicidal nature of their religion...

"Does that change what we're here to do?"

"No. It just makes me aware of my own failing. I would like to put all of the fault on Varnathon, but if we've been heading this way for a while and I was simply blind to it… I am… Ashamed."

Click to shrink...

Well, You're here and you can fix this. Let's just hope he doesn't get too carried away with things... The last thing the Matter Universe needs is the Thunderers going on a crusade of destruction...

"What exactly are the duties of the High Weaponlord?"

"To oversee the designing of new destructive technologies to serve the Anti-Monitor's armies. But the whole point is to serve the Anti-Monitor. That's what makes us q'ardajin. Without that, we're… Just like everyone else. I might as well join the Psions!"

Click to shrink...

Ah, I see a point of irritation there. The though of not being the Chosen People really getting to you, Kalmin?

"I'm afraid that you missed the boat on that one."

"The Apokoliptians, then. I joined you because I wanted to get out of my funk before moving on to work that would actually advance the Anti-Monitor's goals. And now I find that I was never as faithful as I convinced myself that I was."

Click to shrink...

I suppose it's too much to hope for that he decides maybe the Anti-Monitor isn't worth following and throws aside his former beliefs. But that might be a bit too much... Perhaps OL can convince him to be more moderate at least...

"I could be wrong."

"No, it makes too much sense. Aaaah, how far we've fallen."

Click to shrink...

Well, yes, the port is kilometres deep. Of course you've fallen a long way... And yes, I know what he really means.

I look at the screen relaying what the upward-facing sensors can see. I'd say a couple of miles at this point, the Qwardian day shining down at the upper end of the tunnel is reduced to a distant point of light.

"How do you want me to behave?"

Click to shrink...

Well, there's something to be said for playing dumb. If you're exposed as a Human, you might claim to be his Second? In this culture, that probably extends to serving as Weapons-Caddy and body-disposal among other things...

"Remain silent when we are in company. Attack only at my order. That's important. I fully expect to have to prove that I haven't lost my killer instinct. Having a robot fight for me might be acceptable in some circumstances, but this is a matter of spiritual importance."

"And what happens if Sinestro's down there."

Click to shrink...

Oooh, trigger warning for Ol' Kalmin...

"No."

"It's not like Varnathon has a problem with him, is it? If anything, Sinestro represents both an excellent sales opportunity and advertisement. As long as he pays in cash rather than future favours. And it would let him portray himself as doing something that you started."

Click to shrink...

It may seem cruel, but the possibility has to be considered. Sinestro would still be scaling up his own Corps at this point, wouldn't he? Or at least making the initials plans based on the Orange Lanterns Corps' success.

"If Sinestro is down there, then I will kill him myself before dealing with Varnathon and his lies. You need not concern yourself with that."

"Oh? I thought that having.. Thunderers and people like that use your weapons was a perfectly normal thing for Weaponers to do?"

Click to shrink...

I suspect this has little to do with any of that...

"I'm not under any great moral imperative to kill Sinestro myself. I just want to do it for my personal pleasure."

Click to shrink...

Thought so. Some people just rub other people the wrong way, sometimes...

The image of the hole below us begins to resolve in the dim colours of the Qwardian interior for a few second before we both drop out. Kalmin begins slowing his descent at one, while I allow myself to continue to fall.

Two, one…

Click to shrink...

Ah, Qward isn't hollow, so much as two-layered. I'm reminded of that iconic planet (Iskandar, I think?) from Space battleship Yamato there... I wonder how many layers it actually has... Must still be quite a sight, falling out of what is basically a giant cave roof towards distant ground below...

I hit the ground, my kinetic barrier flaring to life and absorbing all of the force of my impact.

"Weaponer. You lead, I follow."

Click to shrink...

And I'm picturing you just slamming down like a brick without even bending your knees, rather than doing the usual superhero landing. It would definitely seem more mechanical...

Hmm... I wonder where Kalmin's doubts will lead him... The Q'ardajin are a bit too powerful for him to destroy them all out of a decision that they've strayed too far, but might we see him commit a few atrocities to set the fire back into their hearts, I wonder... Whatever happens, I foresee Qward being changed considerably by the time he's done...

 

[FreeGod]

Your biggest mistake when dealing with Paul is allowing him to start talking.

Click to shrink...

Paul is always certain. He lacks inner conflict. However that means that he often inspires inner conflict in those he talks to.

There is a reason that paragon heroes are usually able to redeem most non-card carrying villains within a session. And Paul is more willing then many to spend time with villains without feeling a need for immediate violence.

 

[Darko]

lassy. Kalmin's fields of Fucks are entirely barren today.

Click to shrink...

Was his field even fertile to begin with?

Let's not go with the "Are we there yet?"

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Azrael agrees.

I doubt he made her wear the sling bikini and gogo-boots, at any rate.

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Based on their interaction he found her attire impractical, so it's a safe bet to assume he didn't make her wear it.

Huh. Sounds like she'd make a good candidate for a new High Weaponer. Just the right mix of principles and mercenary attitude.

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I think she became this in the renegade timeline, and I think Kalmin was killed there.

Oh, gods, did you just convince Kalmin to organise a more devout leadership? Keeping in mind the omnicidal nature of their religion...

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We all knew that one day Paul's ability to inspire people to be more proactive would backfire spectacularly.

It technically already did since he convinced Luthor to be more proactive and inadvertently helped increase his wealth as well as the power of the Light.

Well, You're here and you can fix this. Let's just hope he doesn't get too carried away with things... The last thing the Matter Universe needs is the Thunderers going on a crusade of destruction...

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Chojin please answer me this question.

Do you love Murphy?

Because you seem to want him to come.

You really need to break it off with him, it's not healthy to be in such a toxic relationship.

I suppose it's too much to hope for that he decides maybe the Anti-Monitor isn't worth following and throws aside his former beliefs. But that might be a bit too much... Perhaps OL can convince him to be more moderate at least...

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Moderate is a relative term here.

The Qwardians basically want to destroy everything so if Paul convinces them to just destroy a galaxy once a century then technically that can be considered as them holding back while still being horrible and evil.

 

[Mr Zoat]

'shares'
Sentence sounds weird.

Maybe 'You just said that you didn't think your acolyte was quite there'

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Thank you, corrected.

'of my time'

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No, that's correct.

'seconds'

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Thank you, corrected.

Ah, you're learning not to recruit every psychopath you meet.

You're growing up.

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Not recruiting them isn't necessarily the good option.

 

[Darko]

Not recruiting them isn't necessarily the good option.

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Maybe, but it's nice to see that he no longer just helps random psychopaths gain more power.

 

[WereDragon]

11th July 2012
06:15 GMT

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Seems token evil teammate is even eviller than expected.
Perhaps a newer model would be preferable.

Somewhat odd they are willing to use something as slow as free fall to descend.

 

[Ngamer11]

Yes, Dox directly spoke to him early on.

He's withholding judgement until they've been around a little longer.

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How about Paul specifically then? How does Sinestro feel about another upstart from Earth making waves in the Lantern business, specifically by helping start another Corps the way he is probably trying to?

Not recruiting them isn't necessarily the good option.

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No matter how true that is, Paul will always get flak for some of his choices of who to recruit. I will admit however, that I kinda hope that Paul does walk away from Qward with at least either one more recruit in Lysis, or a more agreeable Kalmin.

 

[Handlewithcare]

Maybe, but it's nice to see that he no longer just helps random psychopaths gain more power.

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He's going to recruit Varnathon, isn't he?

Greedy weapons maker/seller fits the OLC MO and would be rather useful against the Reach.

Also, he probably just radicalised Kalmin and the Qward even more. Helping Varnathon would mitigate that.

And Kalmin needs to die or reform eventually anyway.

 

[Prince Charon]

He's going to recruit Varnathon, isn't he?

Greedy weapons maker/seller fits the OLC MO and would be rather useful against the Reach.

Also, he probably just radicalised Kalmin and the Qward even more. Helping Varnathon would mitigate that.

And Kalmin needs to die or reform eventually anyway.

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Leaving with one Token Evil Teammate and returning with a different one would make for an interesting look.

 

[Maxx Crowley]

OL....did you just talk a Anti-Monitor fanatic wants to destroy literally everything into a religious revival experience?

 

[Mr Zoat]

How about Paul specifically then? How does Sinestro feel about another upstart from Earth making waves in the Lantern business, specifically by helping start another Corps the way he is probably trying to?

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Sinestro is beginning to suspect that there's something very odd about Earth.

 

[Chaoswind]

Kalmin dying in combat would be the best outcome. Robo Paul can then resume his final "orders" to serve Lysys in the event of Kalmin death and then leave Qward with her.

Bonus points if Siniestro kills Kalmin.

Then again I don't think we are heading that way, but it certainly would be objectively better.

 

[Laundromat2.0]

Your biggest mistake when dealing with Paul is allowing him to start talking.

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LMAO this is a great point.

 

[Someguy Somewhere]

One alternative to recruiting more is kalmin decides to just END the planet here and now in the name of his faith. While he did state it's rather hard to do, he didn't say it was impossible. And if anyone can figure it out it'd be him.

 

[PDV]

Really hoping that if this happens he'll be able to forge a blue ring for Kori.

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How would that follow?

And I'm picturing you just slamming down like a brick without even bending your knees, rather than doing the usual superhero landing.

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Ah yes, the "Rodney From God" approach.

 

[Darko]

How would that follow?

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I remember him telling Paul that Sinestros death would give him hope and I was hoping that with that he could make a blue ring, maybe as a thank you gift to Paul for his help.

 

[Chaoswind]

I remember him telling Paul that Sinestros death would give him hope and I was hoping that with that he could make a blue ring, maybe as a thank you gift to Paul for his help.

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Not what he said. Paul killing Siniestro was his prerequisite to even attempt to make a new blue lantern/ring as the first one was done as a challenge to his skills (can I do this). He would still have to find the raw hope elsewhere. He can probably get some from the Coluans at least currently, but once the spike of hope wanes off their civilization Paul would have to go elsewhere.

Speaking off

Mr Zoat shouldn't the Guardians Sayd and Ganthed (sp) have started with their blue lantern corps?

They probably got reports about Alan current arrangement, so it would make sense for them to up the time table of their blue lantern corps in some way, I mean I expect Paul actions to have some effect on the Guardians, I mean they should also have a few green lanterns investigating the indigo corps too.


I mean they should be smart enough to know all these lantern corps being started in such a short time frame (for them) and the anti monitor armor fragment being found are the prelude to something bigger and they ought to be more active less they are caught unaware.

 

[Vaermina]

OL....did you just talk a Anti-Monitor fanatic wants to destroy literally everything into a religious revival experience?

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Does this really surprise you?

Contrary to what Paragon might like to believe, true Evil is an actual concept that exists in DC.